Riley bowers



' ,Stabat eluded RILEY BOWERS, OF CHILLICOTHE, OHIO.

` Leners Para: No. 88,771, dared .41ml 13, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN' STEAM-ENGINE 'VALVE-GEAR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RILEY Bownnsof Chillicothe, in the county of Ross, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in. Locomotives; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and theletters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to that part of the machinery of a locomotive by which the steam-valve is worked; and

.It consists in the employment of but one eccentric on the driving-axle, with suitable connecting-mechanism to work and reverse each valve, instead of the two eccentrics heretofore employed for that purpose.

The objects of my invention are, eheapness of construction and repairs, and the securing of a more regular and equable motion of the valve than has hitherto been attained. Y

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a top view of one side of a locomotiveframe, with my improvement attached;

Figure 2 is an elevation of one side of a locomotive,

containing my improvements; and

Figure 3 isa detached view of the link-bar A.

I is the frame;

M, the boiler;

L, the cylinder; and

G, the steam-chest.

O is a single eccentric, stationary upon the axle of the drivin g-wheels.

H, the eccentric-rod; and

H', the eccentric-strap.

A is the link-bar, oscillating upon a fixed centre, attached to the frame, shown in dotted lines at a, fig. 1.

N is a hanger, pivoted to the. frame at n, and

K, a connecting-rod, from the hanger N to the link A.

P is a sleeve, sliding up and down on the link-bar A, and

O is a link, connecting said sleeve with the ltumbling-shaft lifter', by means of which the sleeve P is moved upon the link-bar A.

q q are gibs, to take up the loss-motion. v

B is a connecting-rodbetween the sleeve P and inner rocker-arm D.

E is the outer rocker-arm. and

J, the rocker-box.

F is the valve-stem;

It, the reversing-bar;

S, the tumbling-shaft brace;

S', .the tumbling-shaft; and

R', the tumbling-shaft lifter.

The connecting-rod K, between the hanger N and link-bar A, is adjustable in its length, by means of a lapping connection, with slot and screw-bolts, as shown at k', or other equivalent device, for the purpose of causing the valve to travel equal distances over the ports.

The link-bar A is composed of two parallel sections,

b and b', iig. 3, only one of which, b', is embraced by the sleeve P, and these two bars, or sections are attached together by means of screw-bolts at the ends, with space enough between said barsfor the inner side of said sleeve to play in. The bar upon which said sleeve slides, b', is subject to continual wear, and often needs repairing; but, being removable by means of said screw-bolts, it may be removed and repaired. or replaced by a new one, at small expense.

The eccentric-rod H is pivoted to the lower end of the hanger N, and, by .its movement to and fro, gives an oscillating motion to said hanger, which communicates a reciprocating motion to the rod K, which oseillates the link-bar A, and thus gives 'motion to the connecting-rod B, the rocker-arms D and E, and the valve-stem F. i f

The reversing-bar is operated in the usual way. By moving it back or forward, it will be seen that the sleeve P will be moved from one end to the other of the oscillating link-bar A, and so the motion of the valve will be reversed.

The length of the eccentric-rod H, extending from the axle to near the cylinders, lessensthe injurious effects upon the motion of the valve, resulting from vibrations of the axle, incident to unevenness of the track, and other causes, and secures a more regular and equable movement of the valve than has been hitherto attained.l

The employment of one eccentric, instead of two, not only saves expense in construction, but greatly facilitates repairs, inasmuch as, when two are emslip upon the shaft, it is often necessary to remove the other before the defect can be remedied.

link-bar A maybe placed forward of the rocker, and worked directly .by the eccentric-rod H, in which case, the connecting-rod K might bedispensed with.

I am aware that a single eccentric, on a revolving shaft, has been used in steamboat and locomotive-engines, to work and reverse the steam-valve; but, so far as I am aware, such single eccentric has not been made stationary on therevolving shaft, or, if made stationary thereon, has not been used in combination with a link-bar, oscillating upon a fixed centre.

I do not, therefore, claim', broadly, the working and revolving shaft; but

What I do claim as -my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The single eccentric, ixed stationary upon the ployed, and the outside one becomes loose, so as to In an engine so constructed as to admit of it, the

reversing of a steam-valve by a single eccentric on a driving-shaft, in combination with a link-bar, oscillating on a fixed centre, and connecting-mechanism, substantially as herein described, to work and reverse the steam-valve, all constructed to operate substantially as set forth.

2. The link-bar A, oscillating upon a iixed centre, in combination with the eccentric and eccentric-rod, connecting-rod K, and sliding sleeve P,ar1 'anged to operate substantially as set forth.

3. The link-bar A, oscillating upon a fixed centre,

in combination with the eccentric and eccentric-rod, and the sliding sleeve P, all arranged to operate substantially as herein set forth.

4. In combination with the sliding sleeve P, the linkbar A, made in two detachable sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

RILEY BOWERS. Witnesses:

J. J CooMBs, O. L. CooMBs. 

